Collapsible tray or carton



Nov. 22, 1949 K. T. BUTTERY COLLAPSIBLE TRAY OR CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed D90. 29, 1945 INVENTOR. Keri/7H6 Tfiu/fer eiiz ww ATTORNE'YJ Nov.22, 1949 K. 1'. BUTTERY COLLAPSIBLE TRAY OR CARTON 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 29, 1945 uvmvrm Kennel/4 TEA/lie ATTDRNEKS.

Patented Nov. 22, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE TRAY OR CARTON Kenneth T. Buttery,Kalamazoo, Mich., asslgnor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Micha corporation of Michigan Application December 29, 1945, Serial No.638,165

14 Claims. (Cl. 229-32) This invention relates to improvements incollapsible trays or cartons.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a collapsible tray or carton formed of an integralblank which'may be easily and quickly erected and one in which the wallswhen erected are effectively interlocked and supported.

Second, to provide a tray or box formed of an integral blank which maybe shipped or transported in the knockdown and quickly set up by arelatively inexperienced person and when set up is quite strong andrigid even when formed of relatively light stock.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray or carton embodying my inventionerected.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carton collapsed or in the flat.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain of thesteps in erecting the structure and the relation of parts of thestructure.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view further illustrating thepreferred steps in setting up the carton.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a somewhat modified form or embodimentof the invention.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 6fully collapsed or in the fiat.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view further illustrating structuralfeatures of the invention of Figs. 6 and 7.

My improved collapsible tray or box or carton is formed of an integralblank and comprises a bottom I, side walls 2, 2, and end walls 3, 3, theside walls being hingedly connected to the bottom along the score lines4, 4 while the end walls are hingedly connected to the bottom along thescore lines 5, 5. The end walls 3, 3 have corner flaps 6 on their endedges hingedly connected thereto at I.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the end walls andtheir corner flaps are substantially greater width than the side walls,thus providing when the box is erected a structure having the efiect ofrecessed side walls for exposing the contents, the higher end walls andcorner flaps supporting the cover or wrapping which is commonly oftransparent material so that the goods are exposed and may be inspectednot only through the top of the box or wrapper but through what amountsto recessed sides.

It will be noted that the bottom edges 8 of the corner flaps are inalignment with the scores or hinged connections 5 for the end walls tothe bottom and that the end edges 9 of the sides are spaced from thebottom edges 8-that is, when the blank is considered in the fiat.

The side walls have slits l0 opening at their end edges and extendingdiagonally outward from adjacent their bottom edges or adjacent thehinge connection 4 to the bottom. These slits, as illustrated, haveouter end portions ll disposed at an angle to their inner or mainportions, this resulting in the forming of keeper-like portions l2 abovethe slits. The end portions In of the end walls above the slitsconstitute tongue-like members which are readily deflectable inwardly tofacilitate insertion of the corner flaps through the slits and theengagement of the corner flaps with the side walls and generally tofacilitate the erection of the structure.

The corner flaps have slots l4 inclined downwardly from their outeredges providing upwardly'projecting tongues i5. The tongue portions ofthe corner flaps are somewhat narrower than the outer portions of thecorner flaps l6 and the corner flaps are desirably beveled at I l tofurther facilitate erection of the carton.

To erect the carton, the sides are swung upwardly and an end grasped bygrasping the corner flaps and swinging the same inwardly against thedeflectable portions l3 of the side walls which permits the bottom edgesof the corner flapsto be inserted through the slits ID as shown in Figs.4 and 5, bringing the tongues l5 into engagement with the portions ofthe side walls above the slits and with the keeper-like angled portionsit! when the end wall is completely erected. It will be noted that thebottom portions of the corner flaps lie within the side walls and thatthey are in supported engagement with the bottom, thus maintaining theend walls in their erected position substantially at right angles to thebottom. The upper portions of the corner flaps are on the outer side ofthe deflectable portions of the side walls so that although these endportions of the side walls are weakened somewhat by the slits, this iscounteracted or offset by the supporting engagement of the corner flapswith the side walls.

aisavos The structure may be quickly erected and at the same time isvery effectively supported in erected position.- The extending end wallsand corner flaps provide an effective support fora cover or wrapping andpermit the use of narrower side walls which also constitutes a saving inmaterial as well as aiding in attractive packaging.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 thecontainer is somewhat flared and comprises a bottom It, side walls I!and end walls 20, these walls being tapered inwardly. The side and endwalls are provided with hinge connections to the bottom conventionallyillustrated The side and end walls have top flaps 22 and 23 relativelyhingedly connected thereto by hinging, indicated conventionally at 24.These form cover or wrapper supporting flanges as is shown in Fig. 6.The corner flaps 25 are hingedly connected to the ends of the end wallsat 20 and they are provided with hooked tongues 21 on their side edges.The side walls have slits 28 extending from their end edges, the innerends of the slits being somewhat hook-shaped as shown at 29 to providekeeper-like portions It with which the tongues engage. The portions SIof the end walls above the slits are deflectable to facilitateengagement of the tongues when the structure is erected substantially ashas been described.

In this structure, the bottom portions of the corner flaps lie withinthe side walls and their upper portions are on the outer sides of theside walls substantially as I have pointed out. The parts in the erectedstructure are effectively retained throughout and in effectivesupporting relation to each other. This enables the use of relativelylight stock. The facility with which the structure may be erected is,however, a major advantage or accomplishment of my invention.

I have illustrated and described my invention in two practicalembodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describeother modifications or adaptations as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable those slnlled in the art to embody or adapt myinvention as may be desired.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters atent, is:

P 1. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto. and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the bottom edgesof the corner flaps in the flat blank being substantially aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the ends of theside walls in the flat blank being adjacent to but spaced from thebottom edges of the corner flaps, the side walls having slits opening attheir end edges and extendi diagonally outward from adjacent theirbottom edges, the outer end portions of the slits being angularlydisposed relative to their inner portions providing keeper-likeprojections above the slits, said comer flaps having slots inclineddownwardly from their outer edges opposite their hinge connections tothe end walls providing upwardly projecting tongues spaced from thebottom edges thereof to engage the portions of the side walls above theslits when the parts are erected, the portions of the corner flaps belowsaid slots being of less vertical dimension than the portions above theslots and being beveled at their lower inner corners to facilitate theirenend portions of the side walls above the slits therein constitutingtongue-like members freely deflectable inwardly to facilitate insertionof the corner flaps and the tongues thereof throush said slits and tofacilitate the locking engagement of the tongues with the side wallswith the bottom portions of the corner flaps within the side walls andwith their bottom edges engaging the bottom and with the upper portionsof the flaps on the outer sides of the said deflectable portions of theside walls above the slits and in supporting relation thereto.

2. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, th bottom edgesof the corner flaps in the flat blank being substantially aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the side wallshaving slits opening at their end edges and extending diagonally outwardfrom adjacent their bottom edges, said corner flaps having slotsinclined downwardly from their outer edges opposite their hingeconnections to the end walls providing upwardly projecting tonguesspaced from the bottom edges thereof to engage the portions of the sidewalls above the slits when the parts are erected, the portions of thecorner flaps below said slots being of less vertical dimension than theportions above the slots and being beveled at their inner corners tofacilitate their entrance through said slits of the side walls, the endportions of th side walls above the slits therein constitutingtongue-like members freely deflectable inwardly to facilitate insertionof the corner flaps and the tongues thereof through said slits and tofacilitate the locking engagement of the tongues with the side wallswith the bottom portions of the corner flaps within the side walls andwiththeir bottom edges engaging th bottom and with the upper portions ofthe flaps on the outer sides of the said deflectable portions of theside walls above the slits and in supporting relation thereto.

3. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the bottom edgesof the corner flaps in the fiat blank being substantially aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the ends of theside walls in the fiat blank being adjacent to but spaced from thebottom edges of the corner flaps, the side walls having slits opening attheir end edges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent theirbottom edges, the outer end portions of the slits being angularlydisposed relative to their inner portions providing keeper-likeprojections above the slits, said corner flaps having upwardlyprojecting tongues on the outer edges thereof opposite their hingeconnections to the end walls and spaced from the bottomedges thereof toengage the portions of the side walls above the slits when the parts areerected, the end portions of the side walls above the slits thereinconstituting tongue-like members freely defiectable inwardly tofacilitate insertion of the comer flaps and the tongues thereof throughsaid slits and to facilitate such engagement of the tongues with theside walls with the bottom portions of the corner flaps within the sidewalls and with the upper portions of the flaps on the outer sides of thesaid deflectable portions of the side walls above the trance throughsaid slits of the side walls, the slits.

edges thereof to engage the portions of the side walls above the slitswhen th parts are erected, the end portions of the side walls above theslits therein constituting tongue-like members freely deflectableinwardly to facilitate insertion of the corner flaps and the tonguesthereof through said slits and to facilitate such engagement of thetongues with the side walls with the bottom portions of the corner flapswithin the side walls and with the upper portions of the flaps on theouter sides of the said deflectable portions of the side walls above theslits.

5. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the end walls andsaid corner flaps being of a height substantially exceeding the heightof the side walls, the bottom edges of the corner flaps in the flatblank being substantially aligned with the hinge connections for the endwalls to the bottom, the side walls having slits opening at theirendedges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent theirbottom edges,said corner flaps having upwardly projecting tongues on the outer edgesthereof opposite their hinge connections to the end walls and spacedfrom the bottom edges thereof to-engage the portions of the side wallsabove the slits when the parts are erected, the end portions of the sidewalls above the slits therein constituting tongue-like members freelydeflectable inwardly to facilitate insertion of the corner flaps and thetongues thereof through said slits and to facilitate such vengagement ofthe tongues with the side walls with the bottom portions of the cornerflaps within the side Walls and with the upper portions of the flaps onth outer sides of the said deflectable portions of the side walls abovethe slits.

6. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising a,bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the bottom edgesof the corner flaps in the flat blank being substantially aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the side Wallshaving slits opening at their end edges and extending diagonally outwardwith their outer ends substantially spaced from the end edges of theside walls, the outer end portions of the slits being conformed toprovide keeper-like projections above the slits, said corner flapshaving upwardly projecting tongues on their outer edges opposite theirhinge connections to the end walls engageable with the portions of theside walls above the slits when the-parts are erected, the flaps beingbeveled at their lower inner corners to facilitate entrance of thecorner .flaps into the slits, the end portions of the side walls abovethe slits therein constituting tonguelike members freely deflectableinwardly to facilitate insertion of the corner flaps and the tonguesthereof through said slits and to facilitate such engagement and thelocking engagement of the tongues with the side walls with the bottomportions of the corner flaps within the side walls and their upperportions on the outer sides of the said deflectable portions of the sidewalls.

7. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the bottom edgesof the corner flaps in the flat blank being substantially aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the side wallshaving slits opening at their end edges and extending diagonally outwardwith their outer ends substantially spaced from the end edges of theside walls, said corner flaps having upwardly projecting tongues ontheir outer edges opposite their hinge connection to the end wallsengageable with the portions of the side walls above the slits when theparts are erected, the end portions of the side walls above the slitstherein constituting tongue-like members freely deflectable inwardly tofacilitate insertion of the corner flaps and the tongues thereof throughsaid slits and to facilitate such engagement and the locking engagementof the tonguesjwith the side walls with the bottom portions of thecorner flaps within the side walls and their upper portions on the outersides of the said deflectable portions of the side walls.

8. A collapsible tray orbox formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the bottom edgesof the corner flaps in the flat blank being substantially aligned withthe hinge connections for the end walls to the bottom, the ends of theside walls in the flat blank being adjacent to but spaced from thebottom edges of the corner flaps, the side walls having slits opening attheir end edges and extending diagonally outward, said corner flapshaving upwardly projecting tongues on their side edges opposite theirhinge connections to the end walls engageable with the portions of theside walls above the slits when the parts are erected, the corner flapsbeing beveled at their lower inner corners to facilitate the entrance ofthe flaps through the slits, the end portions of the side walls abovethe slits constituting tongue-like members freely deflectable inwardlyto facilitate insertion of the corner flaps and the tongues thereofthrough said slits and to facilitate such engagement and the lockingengagement of the tongues with the side walls with the bottom portionsof the corner flaps within the side walls and engaging the bottom andwith their upper portions on the outer sides of the portions of the sidewalls in supporting relation thereto.

9. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the side wallshaving slits opening at their edges and extending diagonally outward,said corner flaps having upwardly projecting tongues on their side edgesopposite their hinge connections to the end walls engageable with theportions of the side walls above the slits when the parts are erected,the lower inner corners of the corner flaps being removed to facilitatethe entrance of the comer flaps into the slits, portions of the sidewalls above the slits therein constituting tongue-like members freelydeflectable inwardly to facilitate insertion of the corner flaps and thetongues thereof through said slits and to facilitate the lockingengagement of the ton ues s eaves with the side walls with bottomportions of the corner flaps within the side walls and engaging thebottom and with upper portions thereof on the outer sides of theportions of the side walls in supporting relation thereto.

10. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the side wallshaving slits opening at their edges and extending diagonally outward,said corner flaps having upwardly projecting tongues on their side edgesopposite their hinge connections to the end walls engageable with theportions of the side walls above the slits when the parts are erected,portions of the side walls above the slits therein constitutingtongue-like members freely deflectable inwardly to facilitate insertionof the comer flaps and the tongues thereof through said slits and tofacilitate the locking engagement of the tongues with the side wallswith bottom portions of the corner flaps within the side walls and withupper portions thereof on the outer sides of the portions of the sidewalls in supporting relation thereto.

11. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, theside walls having. diagonally disposed inwardly inclined slits extendingto their bottom edges opposite their hinge connections to the end walls,the side edges of the end flaps being provided with slits downwardlyinclined from said edges and engageable with the diagonal slits of theside walls, the inner edges of the corner flap slits engaging the outeredges of the diagonal side wall splits when the box is erected with theend walls in supported engagement with the end edges of the side wallsand with portions of the bottom edges of corner flaps in supportedengagement with the bottom.

12. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cor-- nerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable onthe outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, the

side walls having slits opening at their end edges and extendingdiagonally outward, the outer ends of said slits being diagonallydisposed relative to their inner portions, the corner flaps havingdownwardly inclined slits extending from their side edges opposite theirhinge connections to the end walls providing tongues engageable with thediagonal slits of the side walls, the slits of the corner flaps being atan angle corresponding substantially to the angle of the said outerportions of diagonal slits of the side walls, the inner edges of thecorner flap slits engaging the outer edges of the angled outer portionsof diag- I 8 onal side walls slits when the box is erected with the endedges of the side walls and with portions of the bottom edges ofcornerflaps in abutting supported engagement with the bottom.

13. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprisingabottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected .to'the ends of one of the end walls andfoldable on the outer sides of the side walls when they are in erectedposition, the side walls having slits opening at their end edges andextending diagonally outward, the corner flaps having downwardlyinclined slits extending inwardly from their side edges opposite theirhinge connections to the end walls providing tongues engageable with thediagonal slits of the side walls, the inner edges of the corner flapslits engaging the outer edges of the side walls slits when the box iserected with the end walls in supported abutting engagement the endedges of the side walls and with portions of the bottom edges of cornerflaps in abutting supported engagement with the bottom.

14. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising abottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and cornerflaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end wall and foldable on theouter sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, theside walls having slits extending diagonally outward from their inneredges and opening at their end edges, the outer ends of said slits beingdiagonally disposed relative to their inner portions, the corner flapshaving downwardly inclined slits extending inwardly from their sideedges opposite their hinge connections to the end walls providingtongues engageable with the diagonal slits of the side walls, the slitsof the corner flap being at an angle corresponding substantially to theangle of the outer portions of slits of the side walls, the inner edgesof the comer flap slits engaging the outer edges of the angled outerportions of diagonal side walls slits when the box is erected with theend walls in supported engagement the end edges of the side walls andwith portions of the bottom edges of corner flaps in supportedengagement with the bottom.

KENNETH T. BU'I'I'ERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

